Speakers & Sessions

Conference Day One: Wednesday, 4 November
1.00 pm-3.00 pm

Deloitte-Hosted Bite-Sized Sessions

Host Sponsor: Deloitte

Bite-Sized Host: David Sinkins, Partner, Deloitte

As part of the IIA NZ Conference 2026, these bite-sized sessions will provide practical, high-impact learning focused on the “human superpowers” and capabilities internal auditors need to lead with influence and integrity in a technology-driven era.

We extend our thanks to Deloitte for hosting and supporting this interactive programme stream.

Bite-Sized Sessions Overview: The speaker moves, the attendees remain seated.

* Four sessions delivered sequentially; designed to be practical, interactive, and discussion-led.

1.00 PM–3.00 PM: Roundtable format	Session 1: EQi for Auditors \| Influence, Courage, and Connection Internal audit’s impact rises and falls on credibility and relationships. In an environment shaped by rapid transformation and heightened expectations of transparency, internal auditors must influence without authority, hold difficult conversations, and build trust across boards, executives, and frontline teams. Focus areas: • Building trust with executives and boards • Managing tension, conflict, and ambiguity with credibility • Leading with EQi while maintaining independence and professional scepticism Speaker: Deloitte Speaker
1.00 PM–3.00 PM: Roundtable format	Session 2: Critical Thinking Lab \| Curiosity, Scepticism, and Better Questions Technology can accelerate insight — but it can also amplify blind spots. This practical session strengthens the auditor’s ability to challenge assumptions, identify what’s missing, and ask sharper questions that uncover risk, ethics issues, and control gaps early. Focus areas: • Practical tools to challenge assumptions and surface blind spots • Turning complexity into insight (without getting lost in the data) • Human judgement alongside technology-enabled analysis Speaker: Deloitte Speaker
1.00 PM–3.00 PM: Roundtable format	Session 3: Future Talent & Capability \| Equipping All Generations The profession is evolving fast. This session focuses on how internal audit teams can develop and uplift capability across generations — combining digital fluency with governance wisdom, ethical resilience, and strong stakeholder influence. Focus areas: • Skills needed in a tech-enabled profession • Strengthening talent pipelines and uplifting capability across career stages • Applying the IIA competency lens to future-ready assurance Speaker: Deloitte Speaker
1.00 PM–3.00 PM: Roundtable format	Session 4: Ethics Under Pressure \| Holding the Line in a Technology-Driven World As automation and AI influence decisions at scale, ethical risks grow: bias, explainability gaps, accountability blur, and “because we can” thinking. This session explores how internal audit can strengthen ethical resilience — in governance, in culture, and in day-to-day decision pathways. Focus areas: • Ethical oversight in AI-enabled decisions: accountability, transparency, and “should we?” tests • Recognising bias, incentives, and cultural drift during transformation • How internal audit provides assurance over values, conduct, and ethical decision-making Speaker: Deloitte Speaker

Anthony Pugliese

Amy Scott

Wade Jackson

Andrew McConnell

Anne Tolley

With thanks to our sponsors

Speakers & Sessions

Conference Day One: Wednesday, 4 November
1.00 pm-3.00 pm

Deloitte-Hosted Bite-Sized Sessions

Host Sponsor: Deloitte

Bite-Sized Host: David Sinkins, Partner, Deloitte

Session 1:

EQi for Auditors | Influence, Courage, and Connection

Session 2:

Critical Thinking Lab | Curiosity, Scepticism, and Better Questions

Session 3:

Future Talent & Capability | Equipping All Generations

Session 4:

Ethics Under Pressure | Holding the Line in a Technology-Driven World